The Chief Executive Officer, (CEO) of Yenagoa-based Baraza Multipurpose Cooperative Society Limited, Arc Oyinmiebi Bribena, has faulted the position of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on its alleged disregard of a valid court order in a suit that it instituted against the Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and the Chief Executive Officer of the Cooperative Society, Arc Oyinmiebi Bribena.
The Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa presided over by Justice Isa H.A. Dashen had on 22nd March, 2024 in his ruling restrained the Commission from seizing properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Bribena.
He also awarded the sum of N10,000,000 exemplary damages against the EFCC for the unlawful seizure and attachment of properties belonging to Bliss Multinational and Bribena.
The Court has also issued form 48 (Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order) against the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Olanipekun Olukoyede.
However, the information obtained from the EFCC Twitter handle and signed by his Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale argued that the Commission was not put on notice on the day of judgement of the date.
He stated that as a respecter of the rule of law, the Commission will file a Notice of Appeal against the judgement.
The statement reads, “The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has been drawn to a trending report in the media that Olakulehin Olukoyede, the Commission”s Executive chairman risks committal to prison for alleged violations of the orders of Justice Isa H.A. Dashen of a Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa, Bayelsa state.
“It is important to point out that September 4, 2024 judgement by Justice Dashen came to the Commission by surprise as the EFCC was not put on notice of the judgement date.
“Denying the EFCC of the hearing notice was tantamount to blind-sitting the Commission and by extension a denial of instant hearing in the instant case.
“The Commission is therefore taking steps to appeal the judgement which is still within the time allowed.
“An earlier decision by the Court in a similar case involving the same defendants is currently on appeal at the appellate court in Port Harcourt.
“The Commission wishes to once again reaffirm its commitment to rule of law and will not wilfully violate any court order.”
Reacting to the statement credited to the EFCC Oyawale, Bribena had in a statement clarified that no judgment was delivered on September 4, 2024, as submitted by the EFCC official rather than form 48 ( Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order) was issued against the Executive Chairman of the EFCC, Olukoyede by the Court.
Bribena had in a statement alleged the Commission of non-compliance with the ruling of the Federal High Court sitting in Yenagoa dated 22nd March 2024 that perpetually restrained the Commission from seizing properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Biribena.
The Corporative Society boss faulted the claim of the EFCC that it was not put on notice on the date of the judgement.
He argued that the EFCC was duly represented by their staff and counsel, M. T. Iko, Esq and E. K. BAKAM, Esq of their Port Harcourt Zonal Office throughout the suit and on judgement day on 22nd March 2024
The statement added, “It is indeed sad that an organization such as the EFCC will come out to the public to distort the facts or they are clearly not thorough enough to gather the facts correctly before going to the public with information which is clearly filled with lies.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all proceedings of this case are public documents whose Certified True Copy (CTC) can be applied for by the general public.
“This situation is even sadder because before form 48 (Notice of Consequence of Disobedience of Court Order) was issued against the Executive Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, a letter was written to the Executive Chairman intimating him of the case and the need to obey a valid court order and the said letter was received.”
Justice Dashen had his ruling “perpetually restrained” the EFCC from seizing properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Biribena.
“The judge also declared the seizure and sealing of properties belonging to Bliss Multinational Perfections Limited and Biribena by the EFCC as unlawful.
“The court further described as unlawful the instructions given to Biribena’s bankers by the EFCC to place a post-no-debt lien or freeze on his accounts.”
The EFCC was perpetually restrained from “inviting, harassing, arresting, detaining, threatening to arrest, or detaining the Plaintiffs as a result of the civil dispute between Baraza Multipurpose Co-operative Society Limited and its members, or on matters arising from the registered business objects of the co-operative society.
“The sum of N10,000,000 was awarded as exemplary damages against the EFCC for the unlawful seizure and attachment of properties belonging to Bliss Multinational and Biribena.
“It is indeed sad that an organization such as the EFCC will come out to the public to distort the facts or they are clearly not thorough enough to gather the facts correctly before going to the public with information which is clearly filled with lies.
“For the avoidance of doubt, all proceedings of this case are public documents whose Certified True Copy (CTC) can be applied for by the general public.”
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